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Teachers who now pay 15 percent of the cost of their health insurance premiums will pay 16 percent next year and 17 percent the following year. They will also have higher co-pays and prescription reimbursements.

For the contract's third year, they will be able to renegotiate their wages and benefits.

By state law, the council has 30 days to review the contract and either ratify it, take no action, or vote to seek a settlement through binding arbitration.

Though there was clearly a concern about salary costs, the majority of the council agreed the teachers' union made considerable concessions in salary and health benefits.

If the contract were to go to binding arbitration, council members agreed, the teachers would likely fare better. And binding arbitration costs between $20,000 and $40,000.

Council member
Roger Szendy
said the district must recognize the personnel costs will require reduced spending in other areas.

Schools Superintendent
JeanAnn Paddyfote
said this contract was not negotiated without thought for its impact. Salaries and benefits are the largest percentage of the district's expenses, she said.

Dr. Paddyfore said she expects the administration and board will consider transportation costs, class enrollments, retirements, energy savings and other measures to offset these expenses.

Come budget time, school board member
Thomas McSherry
, who served on the negotiating team, said "everything's on the table. There are no guarantees."

Of course, there are those who would have preferred no increases.

Resident
Jeff McBreairty
told the council he lives on a fixed income and cannot afford to keep paying higher taxes. He encouraged the council to reject the contract until the economic climate improves.

"If we do not put the reins on this situation, then we are welcoming a recession, which is already knocking on the doors of all the communities across this country," Mr. McBreairty said.

Council members
Robert Guendelsberger
and
Ray O'Brien
agreed the increases may be more than local residents are getting in their paychecks. Still, the two credited this district's teachers with making more concessions than teachers in other towns.